How to Wear the Dickies 874 Work Pant

PHOTO CREDIT: The Idle Man

The Dickies 874 work pants debuted back in the sixties when the pursuit for America’s best labour-suited trousers was well and truly underway. Having been first created several decades ago, the Dickies 874 is globally recognised as one of the best workwear suited trousers in the world. Wondering how to style yours? Read on for some tips!

Dickies

As a brand that had been around since the 1920s, Dickies had grown to one of the biggest workwear clothing manufacturers in the US, and eventually the world, in a matter of decades.

With the resources they’d accumulated along with technical fabric advancements, Dickies new 874 work pants far exceeded the competition with a superior composition of a polyester and cotton blend. This borderline indestructible material couldn’t have been suited better to supporting a workforce in a post-war industrious USA.

While they’ve maintained their place among the blue-collar workforce, Dickies has seen a new lease of life in recent years with a growing cult following among young, fashion conscious crowd. With an abundance of colours available, there’s a pair of 874 men’s Dickies pants suited to almost every situation – making them incredibly versatile, not to mention durable.

Dickies Style

While the brand’s direction has taken a slight turn in recent years after being adopted by the fashion community, the Dickies aesthetic is still very much centred around its blue collared foundations. Having developed as a company with roots deep in workwear, they maintain this loyalty to the customers that made the brand who they are today.

Complementing this, however, they’ve added several design-led pieces to the collection, incorporating trends and popular prints alongside their classic overalls and durable trousers. This has opened a whole new audience for the brand without neglecting their existing followers. Interestingly, their 874s remain the brand’s most popular pants style; marrying practicality and style – read on for more information on how to wear them!

How to Wear the Dickies 874 Work Pants

To this day, the 874 dickies pants for men is among the brand’s best-selling products, and it’s no wonder why. The original 874 work pants come with all the practicalities you would expect from this brand with wrinkle resistance and stain release, making them ideal for a day to day pair of trousers that’ll stand the test of time.

With a seemingly endless number of colours available, it’s safe to say that any man should be easily able to incorporate a pair into their wardrobe. Simply put, the dickies 874 work pants can be styled the same way as you’d style chinos so there’s not many rules or restrictions in terms of what you can and can’t wear.

Dickies will always stay true to its identity and vast heritage with its classic’s such as the bib overalls and the Original 874 chino, but are also evolving with the times to meet the needs of their customers. This message is furthered as Dickies claim that of all their products, the 874s are the only product they’ve always got surplus stock.

How to Wear Dickies 874 Black Work Pants

Dickies black work pants are, arguably, the most versatile of the lot. Although perfectly suited to being paired with a simple white t-shirt and some trainers, they can just as easily be dressed up with a shirt and some loafers – attesting to their versatile nature. Check out a couple of outfit ideas below, both formal and casual, that’ll work well with men’s black Dickies pants.

Ideal in a casual setting, the outfit below is a clean, monochromatic take on an otherwise relaxed ensemble. Mixing a perfectly fitted white t-shirt with the iconic dickies trousers is an age-old combination. Adding in one of 2016’s hottest headwear trends in the form of a baseball cap, as well as another of fashion’s current zeitgeist selections, some simple white leather trainers, and you’ll be exuding an effortless nonchalance in no time.

Contrasting to the look above, the Dickies work pants can also be styled up to be suited for a marginally more formal scenario. Hitting the ‘smart casual’ dress code firmly on the head, we’ve added in a high quality 100% cotton t-shirt from Champion as well as a timeless grey tweed blazer from The Idle Man. Throw on a pair of black leather loafers from Hudson to finish the look with a perfect touch of cool!

How to Wear Dickies Navy 874 Work Pants

Another expectedly popular choice for Dickies 874’s is a traditional navy. Just as versatile as the black numbers, they give a nod to their blue collared roots in a classic navy colour, while remaining contemporary with their wider fit and the current penchant for workwear centric pieces.

The effortless look below is a perfect example of Dickies work pants suitability to cool autumn weather. Styling the trousers with an oversized grey sweater and some high-tops is a quick and easy way to get out the door in less than a minute, and we’ve all been in that situation before…

Moving into smart-casual / formal, Dickies navy work pants can work just as well with an oxford shirt as it does a t-shirt. The 100% cotton option from the Idle Man will keep you cooler on warm days, as well as the looser fit of the trousers themselves. Elevate the look with some burgundy loafers and add a sharp Shore Projects watch for the perfect finish.

How to Wear Dickies Beige 874 Work Pants

Finally, the dickies beige work pants are a great alternative to their black and navy counterparts during the summer months. With the same iconic fit, they’re wider fit on the thighs lends itself well to warmers days. Check out a couple of outfits, both smart and casual, for some inspiration below!

Perfect for summer, mixing a pair of beige Dickies 874 work pants with a contrasting shirt is the perfect combination for a stylish sunny getup. We’ve added a pair of contemporary white leather trainers from Garment Project to maintain the laid-back aesthetic and finished the look with some iconic Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses.

When looking for a more formal appearance with Dickies 874’s, it’s best to stick to clean, block colours as opposed to opting for something printed. Finish the look with some smart Dr. Martens ‘rugged’ shoes in brown to avoid looking over-polished and you’re all set for anything from a night out on the tiles with friends to a fancy dinner with the inlaws – oh joy!

Get The Look: Dickies Work Pants

While dickies 874s are incredibly versatile and easy to style, a little guidance is always a good thing. With this in mind, we’ve selected two stylish looks, and how to replicate them, from some dapper chaps out and about in their Dickies work trousers.

For the first look, we’ve mixed a pair of Dickies khaki pants with a simple Breton striped T-shirt from Carhartt. Finish off the look with a classic pair of Vans and a grey marl beanie for an effortless, street-ready appearance.

Another simple, casual look featuring the beige Dickies 874s can be achieved by adding a simple burgundy sweatshirt. Complete the look with a statement t-shirt underneath and a pair of leather trainers.

A Quick History of Dickies

Founded in 1918 by C. Don Williamson, Dickies initially started out as the U.S. Overall Company, only changing their name in 1922 when Williamson joined with his father and cousin to buy out the overall company, renaming it ‘The Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company’. After this, they quickly developed from a small manufacturer of bib overalls to the largest manufacturer of work clothes in the world.

By the time the 1950s had come around, Dickies was expanding into new markets – predominantly in Europe and the Middle East – in a trade liberated, post-war market. Texan oilmen began to introduce Dickies workwear to Middle Eastern oil field workers, this clever move saw exponential growth for the brand in the years following.

In the late eighties, Dickies set up shop in Somerset bringing tough, durable and affordable workwear to the British labour force. This base allowed them to increase their presence in the UK and European markets, which led to Dickies becoming the biggest producer of workwear in the UK.

PHOTO CREDIT: Dickies

As the nineties rolled around and the styles of the time saw an increased move towards casual dressing, Dickies was quickly adopted as the brand of choice among rebellious youth circles, which was soon replicated across the pond in Europe.

Today, Dickies carries an extensive range of workwear including overalls, shirts, jackets, fleeces, bodywarmers and, of course, their iconic work trousers. Furthermore, a wide selection of high-performance products comprising of foul weather protection, high visibility garments, and flame retardant workwear is also available.

Starting from 2016, Dickies Streetwear has rebranded as Dickies Life. This change is brought about by a realisation at Dickies that the brand is about much more than the word ‘streetwear’ could ever hope to encompass. Dickies have always been about more than just the clothes, and Dickies Life is a recognition of the styles and subcultures that surround the brand.

PHOTO CREDIT: Dickies

How to Wear Dickies 874 Work Pants

Although black 874s are perfectly suited to being paired with a simple white t-shirt and some trainers, they can just as easily be dressed up with a shirt and some loafers.

Style navy 874s trousers with an oversized grey sweater, a simple black beanie, and some high-tops for a quick and easy way to get out the door in less than a minute.

Mix a pair of beige 874s work pants with a contrasting shirt for a perfect combination and stylish sunny getup. Add a pair of white leather trainers to maintain the laid-back aesthetic.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Idle Man

On That Note

That’s your lot! While the stripped back nature of the Dickies 874’s makes them incredibly versatile, it’s exactly this versatility and lack of boundaries that can make building an outfit a little more difficult than you’d expect at times. It’s this adaptability, however, that makes Dickies work trousers the perfect, economical purchase for the man looking to buff out his wardrobe.Most importantly, disregarding

Most importantly, disregarding the leaps Dickies have taken with their brand image and stylings, the 874s maintain the superior construction that made them famous. To prove this point, Dickies have started the ‘874 Lived’ campaign. Creatively, they’ve undertaken this with 874 tests of their works pant’s endurance and longevity. For the first 100, they’ll test and release the results in-house, but for the following 774, they’ve opened the doors for public participation.